Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Delta State Police Command, have foiled a kidnap attempt on a team of policemen on an undercover operation at Umunede town.

The police said the armed men sprang from a nearby bush along Asaba-Benin expressway, and opened fire on a moving space bus.

A source said the armed men did not know that the occupants of the bus are all undercover policemen deployed to stem the tide of insecurity along the Asaba-Benin expressway.

A policeman who claimed to have witnessed the incident said three members of the gang died in a fierce gun battle between the detectives and the armed men.

The police said several arms and ammunition were recovered from the deceased kidnappers.

Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Ali Mohammed Ari, who confirmed the attack on the officers said the incident occurred along Asaba/Benin expressway.

Narrating what happened the Delta State Police boss, said some armed  hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers numbering about five, sprang out from the bush around Umunede, and fired gunshots at a space bus in an attempt to rob and possibly kidnap the occupants.

He said unknown to them that the occupants were undercover police operatives. 

He said the team smartly disembarked from the vehicle and returned fire and that during the cross fire, the hoodlums ran into the bush when they realized that their potential victims were policemen.

“The team went into a fierce gun duel with the hoodlums during which three members of the gang  were fatally wounded and one fabricated revolver pistol, six 7.62mm live ammunition, four expended 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from them. 

“The injured hoodlums were taken to  the hospital but died while receiving treatment. Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing” he added.